Tutorials

Adventures when enjoyed with friends, are twice as good. And yet unfortunately we cannot always head out with others, in which case we love to share our tracks! There are currently dozens of platforms dedicated just for this purpose. There are also those whose main function is to allow users to store and organize all the data on their training sessions however they like. Whether we use the former, the latter or both format compatibility is always a concern.

TwoNav has its own file format: TRK , but it also boasts the big plus that one can also use BTRK, an extension referring to a unique and fantastic navigation format known as Roadbook. There is no easier and more intuitive system today to follow a track: it features a navigation system that runs all by itself with both visual and acoustic signs all along the way, so users barely have to pay attention to the GPS screen. It also allows you to include all kinds of additional information, like coordinates, photos, videos, descriptions, links and icons for the most significant sites on your routes.

Our TwoNav devices, in addition to TRK, also work with almost all the universal formats such as GPX, TCX, PLT and even KML and KMZ. Amongst all these the most widely used is GPX, a format compatible with many other services. Most sports management platforms where you can share tracks support this format.

If you are a regular user of this kind of platform you will probably be interested in the fact that our TwoNav devices records directly in the GPX format. It is possible and also very simple to set up your device so that it directly records in it. To do so you just go to the main menu on the TwoNav device and follows these steps:

>Settings (the gear icon in our main menu, shown in the pictures)

> Full Set-up

> Tracklog

> File

> File Format (Once here you will be able to choose the GPX format.)

However you may find yourself needing to share tracks that you had previously recorded in TRK. This is no problem because the format conversion can also be done later thanks to our Land software, and in a very simple way: just open the track in Land and, when you save it again choose the formatting option you want, in this case GPX. It´s that simple. The only thing to keep in mind is that this new format will not retain certain information, such as track color or width, although it will conserve the most relevant aspects: such as those recorded bythe external sensors (heart rate monitor, cadence sensor, potentiometer), and obviously the path.

OSM (Open Street Map) is a collaborative system that, to put it simply, is something like the Wikipedia of maps. The project came about in 2004, headed up by Steve Coast, but has needed years and, above all, the support of almost two million users who, free of charge, have added cartographic data daily to make it the great information source it is today.

The Open Street Map is a massive database of free and editable map data. The maps that make it up can be created by any user, using geographic information captured by mobile GPS devices, like our TwoNavs, orthophotos, and other free sources. It is estimated that the number of users grows 10% every month, and 90,000 km of new roads alone are added each week. The numbers would be even greater if we included types of data, like paths and trails, roads, points of interest, etc. The quantity and quality of information on the Open Street Map system varies greatly, depending directly on the work done by users. Countries like Germany and the Netherlands have succeeded in achieving very high levels of quality in their contributions to the project, while in less developed countries the information is more limited. In some regions Open Street Map may even include areas that are not covered by any commercially-available map product.

In 2014 an update was carried out that significantly improved the system: in addition to expanding information, updating the street guide, and introducing aesthetic adjustments, automatic routing was incorporated. Now a user only has to indicate a starting point and destination on the map, and our software automatically provides the optimal route for his activity.

As is only logical for a project of this nature, neither TwoNav nor any other entity can be held responsible for the accuracy of the data provided. What do we have to do with this system, then? At TwoNav we have invested a lot of time and effort processing maps to make them more enjoyable, user-friendly and, above all, compatible with our Land and Air software and TwoNav devices. Now our users can take advantage of the information available on Open Street Map, easily and conveniently.

Despite all the work that this has entailed, at TwoNav we really strive to recognize these types of projects, and applaud all the users/volunteers who make them possible. Thus, we wanted to maintain this “open” spirit and offer maps at a very low price: €2 for an entire country. We also include maps from around the world with the purchase of one of our GPS devices.

The latest update of our TwoNav software incorporates a new “MUSIC PLAYER” function for the powerful TwoNav Ultra allowing you to listen to your favourite music while practicing your favourite sports. Just synch your Bluetooth earphones with your TwoNav Ultra and it will be transformed into a fantastic music player, while continuing to offer you the best in navigation technology too.

We are probably talking about one of the most important actions a GPS can offer us. A track is, in the last analysis, a set of chronologically organized checkpoints. In this regardTwoNav allows us to use it as a destination to provide detailed information on the route one must take on any of his rides.Let’s take a look at how to manage tracks and the information they offer us.

One of the best things after you finish your outdoor activities is to be ableto share your track with friends. There are many different platforms on which you can share your tracks, but you must remember that each platform works with a specific format. So depending on your needs with TwoNav you can decide in which format you want to record the track of your activity.

It’s frustrating when you prepare your outdoor activity in advance and you find yourself outside and your GPS device loses its signal, or even worse, start without a position and our journey is not saved. Here we have a list of things to keep in mind when trying to get the best reception for our GPS device.